Automobile wagon.



IMQV. B. BTHRIISGEM AUTOMOBILE WAGON.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 10, 1907.

Patented Apr. 26, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

M. vV. B. ETHRIDGE.

AUTOMOBILE WAGON.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10, 1907.

95 6,06 1 Patented Apr. 26, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WITNESSES:

M. V. B. ETHRIDGE.

AUTOMOBILE WAGON.-

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10, 1001.

Patented Apr. 26, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

To all whom it may concern:

MARTIN v. a. manner on NEW YORK,- n. .Y.

AUTOMOBILE WAGON.

Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented Apr. 26, 1910.

Applicationfiled July 10, 1907, Serial No. 382,973.

Be it known. that I, MARTIN V. B. Ernamen, acitizen of the United States,.,and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New .York, have invented certain ,new and useful Improvements in is a specificatio My invention relates to Wagons and more Automobile Wagons, of which the following particularly to forms of wagons designed to be used without horses and. its novelty consists in the construction and ada tation of the parts, as will be more fully ereinafter pointed out.

The ob'ect of the invention is to take a.

wagon o a common type, known as the three-spring wagon and to equip it, with as-little changevas possible, with an automo- ,-tion.is best applied, must be coupledtogether, means must be devised to apply at least two rates of speed forward and one rate backward to the wheels and the whole control must be located in parts readily accessible to the operator seated on the usual drivers seat. In brief, I accomplish the desired purpose by placing a motor under the foot board and having its shaft extend rearwardl under the bod of the wagon through the front elliptica spring. This motor shaft terminates in front of a transverse shaft suitably supported in bearings under the wagon body, and which transverse shaft is connected to the'rear wheels and adapted to drive them by means of two on which are loosely mounted' a worm, gear.

. loosely mounte and a beveled car. A sprocket wheel is on the shaft. These are continually rotated. The sprocket wheel is connected to the motor shaft through a counter shaft and moves at the same or a proportionate rate of speed. The worm gear and beveled gear are connected to the motor shaft through a worm which reduces the -s eed to a fraction of that of the motor s aft. An intermediate idler is interposed between the wormgear and beveled gear to reverse the motion of the latter. Clutches are keyed to the sleeve and are slidably mounted; one clutch throws the sprocket into engagement with the sleeve and shaft. This causes the traction wheels to revolve forward at high speed. The same clutch moved in the opposite direction throws the worm gear into engagement with the sleeve and causes the traction wheels to revolve forward. at low speed. A third clutch throws the beveled gear into'engagement with the sleeve and causes the traction wheels to revolve backwardat low speed. These clutches are all operated by links and levers terminating in handles at the drivers seat. The wagon reach has to be removed to give room for this mechanism and 1 replace it by a forked reach which avo ds the mechanism and is depressed to go around it.

I also lead the exhaust pipes of the motor to the top of the wagon bod so that the products of combustion shal not be discharged against the mechamsm to their injury.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan of the same below the plane of the wagon body, the latter being shown broken away to disclose the Fig. 3 is a front elevation o the parts beneath the wagon body, some of the arts being omitted, and Fig. 4 is a centra section on an enlarged scale of thetransverse shaft, some of the connected parts bein shown in full line (the left side of the sha t itself not,

covered by the sleeve being omitted).

In the drawings, 10 is t e body of an ordinary wagon of what is known as the three-spring type. It is provided with a non-rotatable rear axle 11 to which are secured in the usual manner, at each end, 111- dependently revoluble traction wheels 12. Elliptical s rings 13 are interposed between the rear 0 the body and this axle in the usualmanner. .It is also provided with. a

arts beneath;

non-rotatable front axle 14 to which are se- .cured in the usual manner, at each end, independently revoluble traction wheels 15. An elliptical spring 16 is interposed between the axle 14 and the body 10 and it is'provided with the usual fifth wheel 17 and king bolt 18. If desired, a frame 19 and canopy 20- may be secured to the body 10. The parts described form no part ofmy invention.

At the front of the wagon under the body, and preferably under the foot board 21, I place a motor indicated at 22, securing the same in position by means of a frame work 23, or any other suitable housing. The form of the motor is quite immaterial, but I have indicated an air cooled explosive gasolene engine; 24 being the wire to the plug 25 the intake and 26 the exhaust. Whatever about midway between the front and rear traction wheels.

Underneath the wagon body, also about midway between the wheels, 1s provided a transverse shaft 35 supported in bearings 36 depending from/the wagon body. This shaft is hollow and is provided with'an equalizing gear contained in a casing 37, this casing constituting a bearing for a brake band 3-8 operated by a rod 39' extending to ward the front of the vehicle. A shaft of this character 1 comprising an equalizing gearing is a well known commercial form in the art and needs no particular description. each end of the shaft 35 are secured driving sheaves 40, each provided with an annular groove to receive a welded link chain 41. These chains lead to and engage with similar larger sheaves 42 secured to the rear traction Wheels 12.

Theshaft 35 is provided with :1 ion sleeve 45 adapted to rotate thereon, an which is secured-t0 the equhlizing gear by an annular bracket 46 in nor, for instance by bolts 47. Loosely mounted on the sleeve 45 and adapted to revolve thereon, are several other mechan- 1cal elements as' follows: 50 1s a. WOIIH gear 1 meshing with the worm 29 on the motor shaft 27 and continually rotated thereby.

51 is a beveled revolving gear adapted to.

mesh with an idle beveled gear52 mounted to revolve m a horizontal plane and the shaft of which is supported from the wagon body 10 by a suitable hanger 53. This idler 52 is in mesh with the worm gear 50 and consequently the rotationof the motor shaft through Ethe yvorm. 29, the gear 50 and the dler 52 is communicated continually to the beveled gear 54 is a sprocket wheel in any suitable mans the form of a hollow frustum of a cone havin 'externall ro'ectin s rockets 55 and.

y E J g P an Inner bevele annular surface 56. This.

sprocket wheel receives its rotary motion.

from the motor shaft 27 through a miter gear mounted: thereon, a similar miter gear ,61. mounted on a counter shaft 62 suspended from a hanger 63 secured to the body.

of the wagon, a sprocket wheel-64, secured to the counter shaft, and a chain 65 which drives the-wheel 54'. Keyed to slide on'the sleeve 45, and rotating with it, are a number of clutches adapted to couplethe shaft 35 to the motor shaft indifferent ways a'c-.

cording to the 'exigenciesoflthe use of the device. I

' 70 is a clutch provided with external projecting teeth 71 adapted to contact and engage with a rib 72 on the reversing gear 51.

In order to insure such. on agement the clutch is moved toward the le (in Fig. '4) by means'of a lever 73 swinging on a" pivot 74 and connected by a link 75 'to a. bell cranklever 7 6,.swinging on a piviot 77 and aetu-- ated by a connecting ro 78 provided with a handle 79 at thefront of'the machine. The'worm and worm gear are made of such proportions that the motor shaft turns twelve times to one revolution of the'gear. Therefore coupling the tractionwheels andworm gear together produces a backward rotation of the shaft at low speed. The motion of the motor shaft, reduced by its transmission through the worm gear, is transmitted to the traction wheels to drive them atlow speed forward by means of a clutch 80, provlded with teeth 81 adapted to engage a 'rib 82 on the wheel 50.- This clutch is moved toward the left (in Fig. 4) by means of a lever 83 swinging on a. ivot 84 and connected b a link 85 to a be l crank 86 swinging on t e pivot and connected by a link 87 with a handle SS-at the front of the 1 vehicle.

The full motion or high speed of the mo- 'tor is communicated to the traction wheels through the "miter gears 60 and 61, the counter shaft 62 and the sprocket wheels 64 and 54 by means of the clutch "80 when it is f slid to -the. right by means of the handle 88 and lever connections described in the last paragraph. To that end the clutch is providedwit-h a friction cone 89, the-entiresurface of which 90 is adapted to engage with I the inner surface 56 of the sprocket wheel54. So that by pushing thelever 88-one way the traction wheels are driven at low speed for ward; by pushing it the other Way they are driven at high speed forward; and by pushing the lever 7 9 they are driven at low speed backward. I

motor shaft 'l remove it and replace it by 3 As the ordinary wagon reach connecting the king .bolt and rear axle would be in v the way of the transverse shaftand theacross the same a reach of eculiar desi es c'iall adapted for the pu i pose. It c i npris es a block 91 secured to the king bolt in the usual manner and two forks 92 and 93 made integral therewith, or Secured thereto b suitable means, as bolts 94. These for s extend rearwardly and are fastened to the rear axle. T ey are each provided with a depression 95 to make room for the transverse shaft and gearing. j

A p1pe'96 leads from the exhaust of the motor to the top of the wagon frame so as to discharge the products of combustion away from the parts liable to be affected thereby.

What I claim as new is 1. A vehicle, a transverse shaft extending and interrupted by an equalizing gearing, a sleeve external to the shaft and normally at rest and connected to the equalizing gearing whereby power transmitted to the sleeve at any point is conducted to the shaft at all shaft, a worm actuated thereby, a worm gear loosely mounted on the sleeve and meshing with the worm, a sprocket wheel loosely mounted on the transverse shaft, an operatin connection between the motor shaft an the sprocket wheel, a clutch slidably mounted on the sleeve and adapted to be thrown into engagement with the worm gear, to move the transverse shaft at slow speed forward and to be thrown into engagement with the sprocket wheel to move the transverse shaft at high speed forward at the will of the operator.

2. A vehicle, a transverse shaft extending across the same and interrupted by an equalizing gearing, a sleeve external to the shaft and normallyfat rest and connected to the equalizing gearing, whereby power transmitted to thesleeve at any point is conducted to the shaft at all points, a motorshaft, a worm actuated thereby, a worm gear loosely mounted on the sleeve and meshing with the worm, a sprocket wheel loosely mounted on the, transverse shaft, an operating connection between the motor shaft and the sprocket Wheel, a clutch slidabl mounted on the sleeve and adapted to e thrown into engagement with theworm gear to move the transverse shaft at -slow speed forward and to be thrown intoengagement with the sprocket wheel to move the-transverse shaft at high speed forward at the will of the operator, and means formoving the clutch to secureeither s eed comprising a single lever provided wit a handle at the front of the vehi'cle. q

3. A vehicle, a transverse shaft extending across the same and interrupted by an eqgmlizing gearing, a sleeve external to the s aft and normally at rest and connected to the equalizing gearing whereby power transmitted to the sleeve at any point is conducted pomts, a motor F 1 for to the shaft at all oints, a motor shaft, a sprocket wheel and a worm gear loosely mounted on the transverse shaft, an operating connection, between the motor shaft, the Worm gear, and the sprocket wheel, a clutch slidably mounted on the sleeve and comprisinga tooth adapted to engage with the Worm gear on its one side, and a friction cone adapted to engage internally with the sprocket wheel on its other side.

4. A vehicle, a transverse shaft extending across the same and interrupted by an equalizing gearing, a sleeve external to the shaft and normally at rest and connected to the equalizing gearing whereby power transmitted to the sleeve at any point is conducted to the shaft at all points, a motor shaft, a

worm actuated thereby, a worm gear loosely mounted on the sleeve and meshing with the worm, a sprocket wheel loosely mounted on the transverse shaft and made in the form of the hollow frustum of a cone, an operating connection between the motor shaft, and the sprocket wheel, a clutch slidably mounted on the sleeve and provided with a tooth adapted to engage the worm gear, and a friction cone adapted toengagethe inner surface of the sprocket wheel and means moving the clutch on the sleeve to engage either the worm gear or the sprocket wheel at the will of the operator.

5. A vehicle,,a transverse shaft extending across the same and interrupted by an equalizing gearing, a sleeve external to the shaft and normally at rest and connected to the equalizing gearing whereby power transmittedto the sleeve at any point is conducted to the shaft at all oints, a motor shaft, a worm actuated there y, a worm gear loosely mounted on thesleeve and meshing with the worm, a sprocket Wlieel loosely mounted on the transverse shaft, and made in the form of the hollow frustum of a cone, an operating connection between the motor shaft and the sprocket wheel, a clutch slidably mounted onthe sleeve and provided with a tooth adapted to engage the worm gear, and a friction cone adapted to engage the inner surface of the sprocket wheel, and means for moving the clutch on the sleeve to engage either the worm wheel or the sprocket wheel at the will of the ,o erator, said means comprising a lever providl: a handle at the-front of the vehicle.

6. A vehicle, atransverse shaft extending across the same and interrupted by an equalizing gearing, a sleeve external to the shaft and normally at rest and connected to the equalizing gearing whereby power transmitted to the sleeve at any point is conducted to the shaft at all points, a motor shaft, a worm actuated thereby, a worm gear loosely mounted on the sleeve and meshing with the worm, a sprocket wheel loosely mounted on the transverse shaft, and made in the form d with surface of the sprocket wheel,- and means for moving the clutch on the sleeve to engage either theworm gear or the sprocket wheel at the will of the operator.

7. A vehicle, a transverse shaft extending across the same and interrupted by an equalizing gearing, a sleeve external to the shaft.

and normally at rest and connected'to the equalizing gearing whereby power transmit-' ted to the sleeveat' any point is conducted to the shaft at all points, a motor shaft, a

worm actuated thereby, a worm gear loosely mounted on the sleeve and meshing with-the worm, a sprocket wheel loosely mounted on the transverse shaft and made in the form of the hollow frustum of a cone, an "operating connection between the-motor shaft and the sprocket wheel, consisting of a beveled. gearon the motor shaft, a counter shaft, a'

' beveled gear thereon meshing with the gear on the motor shaft whereby the countershaft 1s turned, a sprocket wheel turning with the conntershaft and a chain between said sprocket wheel and the sprocket wheel on the transverse shaft, a clutch slidably mounted on the-sleeve and provided with a tooth adapted to engage the worm gear and a frlction cone adapted to engage the inner surface of the sprocket wheel, and means for moving the clutch on'the sleeve to en gageeitherthe worm gear or the s rocket wheelat the will of the operator, sai means comprising a lever provided with a handle at the front of the vehicle.

8. A vehicle, a transverse shaft extending across the'same and interrupted by an equalizing gearing, a sleeve external to the shaft and normally at rest and connected to the equalizing gearing whereby power transmitted to the sleeve at any point is conducted to the shaft'at all points, a motor shaft,.a worm actuated thereby, a worm gear loosely mounted on the sleeve and meshing with the I worm, a sprocket wheel loosely mounted on the transverse shaft, an operating connection between the motor shaft and the sprocket wheel, a reversing, gear, a clutch slidably mounted on the sleeve and adapted to be thrown into engagement with theworm' gear to move the transverseshaft at slow speed forward and to be thrown into engage-- ment with the sprocket wheel to move the transverse shaft at high speed forward, a second clutch slidably mounted on the sleeve, rneans for movingxit into engagement w1th the'reversing gear whereby the power of the motor shaft is communicated to said gear through theworm gear, and thence to, the

speed backward. F

9. A vehicle, a transverse shaft extending across theflsame and interrupted by an equalsleeve to move the transverse shaft at slow 'izing gearing, a sleeve external to the shaft I and normally at rest and connected to the equalizing earing whereby power transmitted to the s eeve at any point is conducted to the shaftat all points, amotor shaft, a wormactuated thereby, a wormloosely mounted on the sleeve and meshing ,Wltl'l the worm, a sprocket wheel looselymounted on the trans'- verse shaft, a reversing gear, and an idler associated with-the sleeve, an operating connection between the motor shaft and the sprocket wheel, a clutch'slidably mounted on the sleeve and adapted tobe thrown into engagement with the worm gear to movejthe transverse shaft at slow speedforward and to be thrown into engagement with the sprocket wheel to, move the transverse shaft at high speed forward, a'second clutch slidably mounted on the sleeve, means for moving it into engagement with the reversing gear whereby the power of the motor shaft is communicated to said gear through the worm gearland idler, and thence to the sleeve to move the transverse shaft at slow speed backward, such means comprising a second lever' provided with (a handle located near the front of the vehicle,

10. In a vehicle, the combination with a vehicle body and supporting wheels therefor,

of adriving shaft having a worm, a driven shaft connected to the su porting wheels, a

sleeve journaledon the driven shaft and con nected .thereto, a worm gear loosely journaled on the sleeve and meshing with the worm, a sprocket wheel loosely journaled'on the driven shaft, :1 countershaft having a sprocket wheel, a. sprocket chain connection between the sprocketwheels, a

beveled o ear'connection between the driving shaft and countersha-ft, anda clutch member located on the sleeve between the worm gear andlsprocket wheel and movablealternately into engagement ther'ewith to connect the same to thesleev'e. I

11. In a vehicle, the combination with the vehicle bodyand supporting wheels therefor,

of a rotatable driving-member, a rotatable 1 driven member disposed at an angle thereto and geared to the supporting wheels, a gear element loosely j ournaled on the driven memher and directly connected to the driving member, a second gearelementloosely jour naled on the driven member and geared to the first gear element, a third gear element 7 1301 loosely j ournaled on the driven member and p member inc indirectly geared to the driving member, and means for separately connecting the different gear elements to the driven member.

12. In a vehicle, the combination with the vehicle body and supporting wheels therefor,

of a dri'vin shaft avmg a worm, a driven udmg a shaft and a sleeve, stud member being geared to the supporting wheels, a Worm gear loosely journaled on the sleeve and meshing with the worm, a beveled gear Wheel loosely journaled on the sleeve and geared to c the Worm gear, a sprocket wheel loosely journaled on the driven shaft and geared to the driving shaft, and clutch mechanism for connecting the worm gear, 1i

I and State of New York.

MARTIN V. B. ETHRIDGE; Witnesses:

HERMAN MEYER, ALAN MCDONNELL. 

